MAGUFULI ADVISES NEW CCM SECRETARIAT ON ‘THE WAY FORWARD’

NATIONAL CCM Chairman, President John Magufuli, yesterday held talks with new members of the party’s secretariat, who were recently appointed and endorsed by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

The three new members are Deputy Secretary General (Mainland), Mr Rodrick Mpogolo, the Secretary for Publicity and Ideology, Mr Humphrey Polepole and Political and Foreign Relations Secretary, Colonel Ngemela Lubinga.

According to a statement from the Presidential Communications Unit shortly after the talks, Mr Polepole said they were meant to inform the national chairman on the preliminary plans for implementation to bring desired positive changes within the ruling party.

"The president has assured us of implementation of reforms within CCM to consolidate power and returning the party to the ideals on which it was formed ... the party that stands to protect the interest of the downtrodden," Mr Polepole said.

He added that the president has also directed the secretariat to go and work hard as Tanzanians had high hopes on CCM. The new CCM publicist said members of the Secretariat in response pledged their commitment to work hard so that the agenda of building a new Tanzania is achieved by the new CCM.